‘Knocked them down’: Van Dijk explains Klopp’s half-time team-talk that led to Liverpool’s instant equaliser

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Virgil van Dijk explained what Jurgen Klopp told his Liverpool team before their instant equaliser against Manchester City on Sunday. The Reds forced their second goal.

Liverpool had to come from behind twice against Manchester City on Sunday but somehow managed to make it happen. This was away at the league leaders, of course, with the pressure at an absolute high.

But the Reds found the goals they needed. The first came almost immediately after City took the lead, with a well-worked Diogo Jota goal. In fact, Jurgen Klopp said after the game that it’s the kind of goal he wants to see more often.

Liverpool’s second took a little longer – primarily because there was a half-time break in between Gabriel Jesus’s goal and Sadio Mané’s response. What was telling, however, was that the Reds forced that goal just 46 seconds into the second half.

Whatever Klopp said clearly had an effect and Virgil van Dijk openly discussed the half-time teamtalk in the Liverpool dressing room after the game.

Virgil van Dijk on Liverpool

“I think the main message was to start playing again,” he told Premier League Productions. “There were moments in the first half where we kept the ball, we played the ball quick and then it’s difficult for City to press high.

“Especially with the quality we have up front and the runs in behind. So we had to start playing and obviously, the early second-half goal helps.

“Knocked them a little bit down but then it’s key to keep playing and to get your moments.”

For what it’s worth, Pep Guardiola said after the game that Liverpool’s second goal was a perfect example of why they’re so dangerous. The Reds pressed high and essentially forced the goal by playing quickly.

That’s what Van Dijk is getting at, of course. Liverpool managed to take the game to City, controlling them and taking advantage of any space they could.

It’s far from easy to do but Klopp clearly wanted to see more of it in the second half. The fact it took 46 seconds for Liverpool to pull it off is a testament to just how right he was.